Looking for a kitchen faucet

North86 · 08-28-2021, 02:49 PM

Getting new counters, sink and new faucet. We have a touch faucet with one arm to adjust temp, and the head comes off to spray. The misses likes the touch on/off function. I just started looking at prices and HOLY SMOKES are they expensive!! Nearly $400 for a faucet that looks slightly modern with a spray head, and touch controls?!?!? Wowza!!!

Amazon also has a bunch of faucets from brands I can't pronounce; they have good reviews, and are 1/3 to 1/4 the cost.

Any recommendations? Is this a buy once, cry once moment, or are there solid values out there in somewhat lesser known brands?

TIA

Roswell · 08-28-2021, 03:23 PM

In this situation, you truly get what you pay for. My suggestion is to bite the bullet and move on.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

lead time can be long too. order now.

dad911 · 08-28-2021, 04:30 PM

We have not used a touch faucet(yet), but of the 'off brands' for plumbing we have had good luck with Kraus and KES from Amazon.

Bill Douglas · 08-28-2021, 05:00 PM

Just don't buy anything made in China, buy European. Very important. (the mixer cartridge is worn out after about a year)

look 171 · 08-28-2021, 05:04 PM

Hans Grohe, KWC, Newport Brass or Cal faucet has been our go to plumbing fixtures for the past 20 years. Never really had a problem with them. I hear noise about lead content in some of the Chinese imports, but I am sure some of the parts that goes into the the faucet mentioned above have Chinese parts also. Moan would be my next choice. They are all above 400 bucks but like Roswell said, you do get what yo paid for.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

Newer faucets are nice but sonuvagun, they can be a PITA to replace washers and other bits when they leak. It's like you need an engineering degree sometimes. And if you don't know the model, good luck figuring out the cartridge.

Zeke · 08-29-2021, 07:04 AM

Kohler won't let you down but the Kohler sold at the big box is not the one you get from a Kohler dealer. I like Rohl too. Neither are anywhere close to $400. Buy a Delta as Jeff says.

BYW, a large % of one arm faucets use the exact same mixer cartridge which is 25 bucks on the bay.

brainz01 · brainz01's Garage

We have used a Delta Touch2o for the last 10 years. It generally works, but is occasionally finicky. Certain cleaning supplies will make the faucet less conductive and not respond well. Other times, if there's a lot of water around the base of the faucet, it will turn itself on automatically.

We've also had to replace the sprayer and the water valve. Delta was awesome and replaced both under warranty.

1 vote for Delta, but be aware that touchless can be extra trouble.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Faucets are expensive. I bought a T&S, simple and sturdy, was still $500.

p911dad · p911dad's Garage

We have a C-TECH-1 from Italy, solid stainless. It has been in place for 12 years, absolutely no problems so far and still looks like new. It is just a faucet with a spray head, nothing fancy.

Bill Douglas · 08-29-2021, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

BYW, a large % of one arm faucets use the exact same mixer cartridge which is 25 bucks on the bay.

The mixers. the cartridges, are all a stock size. Easy to swap out. But a $25 one from the bay is certainly made in China and will have about a fifth the lifespan of a proper European one.

stevej37 · 08-29-2021, 11:27 AM

The kitchen faucet in my home is a Moen single lever.
It's at least 15 years old...maybe more.
Works the same as new...never needed a new cartridge.

I know I paid less than $75 for it.

flatbutt · 08-29-2021, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

The kitchen faucet in my home is a Moen single lever.
It's at least 15 years old...maybe more.
Works the same as new...never needed a new cartridge.

I know I paid less than $75 for it.

Me too. Moen in kitchen and bath. I just replaced the toilet, sink, faucet, counter and cabinets in my bathroom. $3500 just for those bits!

gregpark · 08-29-2021, 12:59 PM

Whatever the brand get a high arching faucet. You know,. so you can rinse out those big pots and 5 gallon buckets.
Maybe they're better now but I've always had a hate relationship with Moen

wcc · 08-29-2021, 01:05 PM

Take a look at Moen. I have a couple of these and really liked them so far..

Moen

Sometimes you can find them on ebay a lot cheaper..

flatbutt · 08-29-2021, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregpark

Whatever the brand get a high arching faucet. You know,. so you can rinse out those big pots and 5 gallon buckets.
Maybe they're better now but I've always had a hate relationship with Moen

My kitchen Moen has a retractable hose built into the spout housing.

gregpark · 08-30-2021, 01:03 AM

When mine fails I think I'll install something like this

OldSpool87 · 08-30-2021, 04:51 AM

We had a Grohe Ladylux in our old place for 10+ years and no problems. I put two in our new house during kitchen renovation and have no regrets. They are not touch enabled but work and parts, if needed, are available.

masraum · 05:04 AM

I haven't looked, but 99% of the time anything that you see on Amazon that is an off brand is a cheap Chinese knock-off of some other brand. Some of them may even been relatively faithful knock-offs, so decently made, but I wouldn't for at least 2 reasons (probably going to break due to being cheap, and then you're screwed and it's basically a knock-off so likely stolen tech/IP, so I don't want to encourage that crap.

Amazon is being flooded with Chinese junk these days.

A faucet, especially a fancy several hundred dollar faucet, is something that you expect to last for years or even decades. You expect to be able to fix it when it starts leaking and keep it going (maybe a little less with a faucet that's got electronics [seems kind of amusing, right, a faucet that you intentionally plug into an outlet, or are they battery powered - blech!]).